Real Betis continued its impressive opening to the 2026-27 La Liga campaign on Thursday, earning a narrow 1-0 victory over Getafe at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. The decisive goal came just before halftime when winger Abde Ezzalzouli finished a low‑driven shot from the edge of the box after a video‑review confirmed no handball in the build‑up. The assist originated from a well‑timed cross by Irish forward Troy Parrott, who also threatened the Getafe goal with a long‑range effort from midfield.
Getafe goalkeeper David Soria was active throughout the first half, making a crucial save by tipping an Antony shot onto the post. Late in the match, Getafe’s midfielder Mario Martín received a second yellow card and was dismissed, leaving his side with ten men as they pressed for an equaliser.
The win lifted Betis level on points with second‑place Real Madrid, both sitting on 15 points after three rounds. Barcelona remains atop the table with 18 points, maintaining a three‑point cushion at the summit of the league.
Europa League action: Crete and Salzburg claim early wins
In the Europa League, German side Hoffenheim dominated possession with 59% but failed to convert, while Greek club OFI Crete took a 2-0 victory over their unnamed opponent. Aitor Cantalapiedra opened the scoring early in the first half after a swift counter‑attack, and substitute Georgios Kanellopoulos added a second with a headed finish late in the game.
Meanwhile, Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg secured a 1-0 win away at Levski Sofia, with the lone goal coming from a disciplined defensive performance and a timely strike in the second half.
English clubs embark on European campaigns
Premier League side Bournemouth, fresh off a record‑breaking sixth‑place finish, will make its European debut against Real Sociedad in San Sebastián. The club hopes the match will help reverse a slow start to its continental campaign.
Crystal Palace also begins its European journey, facing Polish champions Lech Poznań after winning the UEFA Conference League last season. Other notable fixtures include Juventus versus Dutch side Nijmegen, Beşiktaş hosting Marseille, and Celtic taking on Ferencváros in Glasgow.
Opening round highlights across Europe
Wednesday’s matches saw Benfica upset AC Milan 2-0 at the San Siro, Sunderland claim a 1-0 victory over AZ Alkmaar in its first European outing since 1973, and Lyon defeat Anderlecht 2-1. In England, Manchester City will meet second‑division Norwich City in the third round of the League Cup.
These early results set the tone for a competitive season in both domestic leagues and European competition, with several clubs looking to build momentum from strong starts.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
